No Swimming at Middlefield Beach Due to Elevated Bacteria

MIDDLEFIELD, CT - Five of the state's inland beaches are closed for swimming today, June 7, due to elevated levels of bacteria in the water, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced.

The affected beaches are Indian Well State Park in Shelton; Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford; Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middlefield; Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth; and Kettletown State Park in Southbury.

The increase in bacteria in the water at these beaches is the result of stormwater runoff from Sunday's heavy rains, which has primarily only affected these inland beaches around the state.

"Samples are collected weekly by DEEP staff and are analyzed at the Department of Public Health Lab for the presence of certain indicator bacteria," wrote DEEP in a statement about the closures.

According to DEEP, such bacteria "are not disease causing pathogens, but are one of the tools used by public health and environmental protection authorities to evaluate the potential for contamination of waterbodies."

Officials were going to re-test water samples from the five beaches today, but if that could lead to them reopening the beaches as early as tomorrow was not disclosed.